What We Wear

[mdm44]

I have read several posts recently (not on this forum) poking fun at motor scooter riders who are riding wearing full protective gear. The tone suggests that they should not be dressed as if they were riding a REAL bike. My thought is that these riders can't win. If they wear little, they are demeaned; if they dress defensively, they are made fun of.

My point is that the asphalt doesn't know whether you were riding a scooter or a motorcycle when you hit it at speed. It all hurts the same. Maybe we, as riders, should encourage these (often new) riders to wear the correct gear, rather than suggesting otherwise.

Possibly my viewpoint is skewed because I spent a couple of years riding a scooter (a Honda Silverwing). I admit I felt funny at times dressing in my regular gear to ride that scooter, but at the speeds it could do, I knew I needed it; I knew that some day I would regret it if I didn't.

There may not be a good answer to this problem (not more legislation, under any circumstances), but with all the inexperienced riders now getting on scooters, i think we should find a way to start them right by encouraging them to wear whatever gear they can afford. Some day, it may save their lives, if not a lot of skin.

My thoughts, Mike

[pirate]

Great points, Mike. I agree the most with your statement about how the pavement doesn't care what you're riding when you hit it.

[aj]

Who cares what you wear or what you ride, ride safe! There is no give when it goes wrong. :-/

[jussmatt]

To me....wear whatever you want. If you feel like you need to be protected and safe, then wear what ever you need to make yourself feel protected and safe as possible. If you wanna dress for heat or just don't care and want to go shirtless, lidless, and wear shorts and flip flops... that's fine too!! Doesn't matter if you're on a crotch rocket, cruiser, or a scooter. As you said, pavement sure isn't going to care what you're falling off of!!! To me, it's just like any of the lessons I try and teach my kids.... it's your decision, YOU will have to live with the consequences of your decisions and actions... so, you might wanna just think a bit before you make a choice!! Sometimes they listen and make what I think is the right choice, sometimes not....

All that being said though, I think there is a bigger issue than what 'scooter' riders wear. It's their lack of training and skill. In order to "legally" drive a motorcycle, you have to have the endorsement on your license...of course that requires a riding test and written test to obtain. Some scooters are so small, that no such endorsement is needed....so I see a lot of people trying to ride these scooters on roads where the speed limit is 65mph. Around here, a Speed Limit of 65mph means people are doing 75-80mph.... so it's just not safe to me. Not to mention the kids I see riding these things..... I just think there should be a little more requirements to be met for, if nothing else, safety reasons.

Just my 2cw.

[ringadingh]

I agree, skill and ability are far more important, newbies have to learn somewhere but protective gear will only do so much, with skill you don't have to rely on the gear as much, and can get out of most situations before its to late.

[justbrian]

I got a scooter, i pull a cargo trailer made for bycycles behind it. i ware a helmit and when its cold, a leather jacket. When im on the little thing sometimes i wish i had an armor buble around me. When a truck passes you it can be a little nerve racking. I only ride through the neighborhoods that surround me but if i was needing to ride across tow n i would want every peice of gear i had incluing old football gear and a few spare changes of pants :) .

[cactusjack]

A good point was made previously. These little scooters are no longer just for students, they are becoming "trendy". People will buy them just to belong or to be cool. While there's nothing wrong with that in and of itself, it's going to mean there will be a lot of untrained new riders on (mostly) underpowered machines.

As I've stated before, you have got to respect the ride. Scooter dealers in the Phoenix area can't keep these things in stock, they are going out the door so fast. My fear is, soccer moms and others who wouldn't get near a real motorcycle are going to put themselves and others in harm's way through inexperience and sheer ignorance. I'm not for more government regulation, but any cycle or scooter with 2 wheels and a motor should require the rider to pass a Basic Rider Course or equivalent before they hit the streets.

As far as riding apparel, I don't want the government telling me what I need to wear to be safe. I'm not an idiot and common sense should prevail. Somebody who lacks common sense may get hurt or killed, once again proving Darwin right.

Some of you who attended the rally in Mesquite experienced the kind of heat we in Phoenix have to contend with 4-5 months out of the year. I don't need some lawmaker trying to protect me by mandating full leathers or a full-face helmet. I don't ride in shorts and flip-flops and never will. I may or may not wear a helmet, I may wear leathers, armored mesh or a t-shirt, depending on conditions. It's a conscious decision and it should be mine and mine alone.

[audiogooroo]

+1

[jussmatt]

Right there with ya CJ. That's what I wanted to say.... just not as eloquent as you!!! LOL!

[watchman]

I also agree with Matt. Around here you see everything from Race suit with boot and full tec suits to wife beaters with shorts and sandles. I believe most have never seen a bad wreck. I know I should wear more/better protective gear and some day I may reget for not wearing it. But I wear what I call my comfort level of prtection. But then my dad had a great saying I live by: No brains, NO feelings!

I have a scooter in addition to my Nomad ( Honda Reflex Sport). In Louisiana, by law, you at least have to wear a helmet. No matter if it's a scooter or cruiser. The rest is personal choice. We were taught in our MSF course to dress for the crash, not the ride. Since statistics state that most accidents happen at 35 mph or below, I believe that if you ride something that can travel at street speeds, you should protect yourself. I see scooter riders wearing helmets, protective jackets, and full finger gloves while riding their scooters. They do look a little funny, but you are just as much at risk on the scooter as a motorcycle, IMHO. I don't see anything wrong with someone wanting to protect themselves as much as possible, while riding a motor powered two wheel vehicle. Then again, I see people here on motorcycles wearing shorts, t shirt, sandals, no gloves, flying down the interstate. Go figure !!

[bear]

Been riding 40 years. Crashed on my Cannondale mountain bicycle a few years back wearing shorts and t-shirt with tennis shoes. My bicycle helmet broke in two when I hit the asphalt. Nobody told me to wear it; it just seemed like the thing to do.
Thirty years ago I rear ended a car that had no brake lights while I was riding my Yamaha dirt bike. I was dressed for it and walked away with only aches and pains from the impact.
We learn from our misteaks, er mistakes. Natural selection takes care of the ones who don't learn quickly enough. Those who survive their mistakes and learn the lesson from them usually live to tell about them.

Wear as much protection as you can stand to wear, folks. The worst accident I've ever had in 35+ years of riding/driving was on a scooter.

A scooter is just like a motorcycle except more dangerous because they generally don't do anything quite as well as a regular motorcycle does it.

[trip]

I think CaddmannQ is right........always wear as much protection as you can. I'm not saying that I always follow that advice. I'm probably the world's worst at just wearing a t-shirt while riding in the summer. But, we all need to get into the habit of wearing the appropriate gear along with a helmet.

My 2 centavos worth.

[ianicky]

I always wear leather jacket with elbow & shoulder armer, Gloves, Boots but only wear my Jeans in the summer, it does get a bit hot with the leather jacket in the summer but i think its safer than hitting the road without it. It must be very tempting to ride in a t shirt with the temperatures you get over there.